Award-Winning Kids’ Nature Magazine Fun Projects, Puzzles and Stunning Posters Issue 88 LOVELY LLAMAS & OTHER LAMOIDS THE QUEEN'S SWAN MARKER ASK THE EXPERT GOLD AWARD PARENTS’ CHOICE® 2 0 20 CHARLIE MEETS AN EMU Nature’s Longest Necks! MAKE! NUBIAN GIRAFFE ENDANGERED CREATURE FEATURE 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Email: [email protected] Post: Eco Kids Planet, 41 Claremont Road, Barnet EN4 0HR ecokidsplanet.co.uk facebook.com/ecokidsplanet twitter.com/ecokidsplanet 22 Lovely Llamas & Other Lamoids Amy investigates… 3 A Letter From a Giraffe Weevil Welcome to your new issue! 4 Nature’s Longest Necks Let’s look at lots of long-necked creatures 12 The Queen’s Swans The Queen’s Swan Marker answers your questions 21 Bactrian Camels Amelia the Fox comic strip 30 Quiz Planet Puzzles, games and jokes 32 Over to You Winners of the Wild Hero competition 34 Paper Pom-Pom Swan and Cygnets Enjoy the monthly craft project 35 Animal Kitchen Creations Enter this month’s competition 10 Nubian Giraffe Endangered Creature Feature 8 Charlie Meets an Emu The world’s second-largest living bird What's inside this Ecology Consultant: Olga Denyshchyk Design: Nebojsa Dolovacki Comic: Richy Chandler 26 Long-Necked Weirdness Simon investigates… PLUS! All images: © Shutterstock (unless stated otherwise) Two Posters To subscribe, visit www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk Eco Kids Planet is published 11 times a year, monthly except for combined double July/August issue, by Eco Kids Planet Ltd. Editor: Anya Dimelow Writers: Gabby Dawnay, JD Savage, Pete Dommett Contributors: Josette Reeves, Katharine Davies, Daisy Fox For subscriptions, please call 0800 689 1365 Gerenuk Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya © Dennis Huot/naturepl.com Grey Heron in a Courtship Display Hungary ISSUE 17 Wildlife News Cover: Masai Giraffe © Winfried Wisniewski/naturepl.com 2 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

And what’s the animal with the longest neck you can thing of? A giraffe, right? Well, I’m a bit smaller than a giraffe… In fact. I’m a tiny 2-5cm giraffe (necked) weevil! My magnificent neck is almost three times as long as my body. And between two and three times the length of a female giraffe weevil’s (sadly short) neck. But my articulated (yes, it can bend) extension isn’t for reaching fruit and shrubs from treetops. Oh no! We use our impressive necks for fighting other males. We rarely kill opponents, just push each other around a bit to show off. Whoever wins gets the lovely female giraffe weevil. She, meanwhile, begins constructing a very special crib out of a leaf, only pausing to referee our mini-beast battle. Once the winner is announced, the REAL work begins… Mamma weevil uses her powerful legs to fold the leaf. She curls up the end of it and lays a single egg inside. Then, with some help from the winning male – that’s ME – she rolls it up. Finally, she snips the stalk and the neatly wrapped egg package falls to the forest floor. Hello, Eco Kids, and welcome to your magazine! © Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo © BIOSPHOTO / Alamy Stock Photo This issue is all about animals with L - O - N - G necks! We giraffe weevils live in the rainforests of Madagascar, in trees known as giraffe weevil trees. Gotta fly! (Yep, we can fly, too…) Lots more long necks for you to meet in this issue! Oki xx (A fabulously long-necked and rather cute giraffe weevil.) 3 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Heads up! You’re about to discover… NATURE’S LONGEST NECKS! Giraffes are the world’s tallest land animals. They stand up to five and half metres tall – and almost half of that is neck! But why are their necks so long? The joke answer is: to reach their heads. But what’s the real reason? Many people think they evolved such long necks to snack on the highest tree leaves – ones their smaller rivals can’t reach. But why didn’t the necks of other plant-eaters become just as long? The winner by a neck Some experts think those necks grew to be weapons! Sometimes – although not often – male giraffes fight for a partner to mate with. Two males stand side by side, swinging their heads at each other like battering rams. Those hairy-horned heads can do plenty of damage to each other’s ribs and legs. The longest-necked males may stand the best chance of winning. Yet female giraffes have long necks, too. Giraffes are cool! The most unusual idea is that they evolved such long necks to stay cool. Africa can be a very hot place. When a giraffe faces the sun – as they often do – their long neck keeps a lot of their skin in cool shadow. Could their necks really be nicelypatterned sunshades? Maybe it’s a mix of all three reasons! The same number – seven! ANSWER: Vocabulary Evolve: Change slowly over time. QUICK QUIZ! We humans have seven bones in our necks. How many do you think a giraffe has in its neck? Answer below! © Nadezhda Goretovskaia 4 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

To drink, a giraffe needs to spread its legs far apart to reach down to the ground. They don’t need to do it often, though. Most of their water comes from the plants they eat! GIRAFFE FACTS (No tall tales here!) Fun Fact A giraffe can kill a lion with one kick! There are about 16 species of snakenecked turtles. Some of their necks are even longer than their shells. They’re so long that they can’t fully draw them inside! If a predator comes, the turtle folds its neck against its body. That’s also what it does when it’s hunting small, moving creatures. Then it startles (or s-turtles) its prey by striking its neck out fast – rather like a snake! Overall, it would be pretty cool to be a giraffe – unless you’re scared of heights! BIGGER SHELLS NEEDED! Australia’s northern snake-necked turtle Giraffes’ brains tower high above their hearts. No wonder they have the biggest heart of any land mammal. They need a large, powerful one to pump the blood all that way up to their sky-high head! If a lion attacks a giraffe, it doesn’t fight back with its neck. It gives a powerful – possibly deadly – kick. Then the giraffe can run off at speeds of up to 56 kilometres per hour! Giraffes can spend up to three quarters of their day eating. After all, they only get a few leaves in each bite and have big bodies to feed! Their long tongues are blue, purple or black. The dark colour may stop the tongue from getting sunburnt! © Etienne Littlefair/naturepl.com 5 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Many wading birds have long necks that help them catch prey. They make it easy to reach down into the water to catch fish. Herons are famous for tilting their necks while on the hunt. Can you guess why? The answer’s below. FEATHERED NECKS! Vocabulary Wading (pronounced “way-ding”): Walking in water. ANSWER: think it’s to avoid the sun’s glare reflecting off We the water. (Nobody makes sunglasses for herons!) Fun Fact Flamingoes perform extravagant dances to attract a mate. In a dance, the male sticks its neck out as far as he can, flapping his head from side to side. Different long-necked birds do different things with their necks when they fly. It’s all about balance. Herons, and other birds with light bodies, tuck their necks into an ‘S’ shape. Flamingoes have 19 bones in their tubelike necks. That enables them to twist in all kinds of directions – even backwards. Handy for feather-cleaning! They feed with their heads upside down. What’s more, they sleep with their necks folded over their bodies and their heads on their backs (while standing on one leg)!  Sometimes two wind their necks around each other. It’s not a mating dance – they’re having a flamingo fight! Luckily, their necks never seem to get tied in knots. (That could be embarrassing – not that you’d know if a flamingo was blushing!) Heavier birds, including cranes, fly more smoothly if they stick their necks straight out. It’s one way to tell the difference between a heron and a crane! © Rich Dyson/Alamy Stock Photo 6 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

As the world’s top dinosaur expert, I’m here to tell you there were dinosaurs with necks six times longer than the world’s longest-necked giraffe! Imagine if I had a neck like that. I could stand outside our local football ground and watch the matches for free by peering over the fence! The ones I’m talking about are called sauropods. (You say it like this: “saw-o-pods”.) So how did they carry those mega-necks around? Firstly, they had truly massive bodies. They also had four large, sturdy legs, which helped to support them. Thirdly, their neck bones were hollow, like birds’ bones, so they weren’t too heavy. Up to 60% of their neck was made of air! And why did they need such long necks? Some scientists think it was so they could chomp on leaves from the treetops. But others think it was so they could graze down low, sweeping their heads around to grab plants from a wide area of ground! RUSTY’S PREHISTORIC MEGA-NECKS! Hi, Rusty fans! Never mind herons and turtles – or even giraffes. What are those short-necked animals even doing in this issue? I WISH THESE LEAVES DIDN’T TAKE SO LONG TO REACH MY TUMMY! Here’s a Brachiosaurus about 150 million years ago! (That’s a tree, not a giant loo brush.) There were some very cool, long-necked reptiles that weren’t dinosaurs around in prehistoric times, too. Imagine a giraffe soaring above you – but with a longer neck. You’ll have some idea of what giant azhdarchid pterosaurs (say “az-dark-id terra-saws”) looked like in flight! I WISH I HAD A SIMPLER NAME – LIKE BOB! Azhdarchid pterosaurs were the largest creatures that ever flew! I suppose you’d better return to some modern-day long necks now… 7 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

An Emu! Charlie Meets… It’s me, Charlie, the Eco Kid who can chat with animals. This time, I’m meeting the world’s second-largest living bird. Only ostriches are bigger! Charlie: I’m in Australia, where emus have lived for about 80 million years! I’m hoping to find one in this grassland. Whistle! Charlie: Can you hear the wind whistling through the grass? Hang on, there is no wind… Baby emus: Whistle! Whistle! Charlie: Wow, it’s little emu kids making the noise. Charlie: Now they sound scared. HISSSSSSS! Charlie: No wonder. I can hear a big snake coming after them! Emu: HISSSSSSSSSSS! They’re scared of you, you rotten dingo – and now you’d better be scared of me! Charlie: Wow, it’s an adult emu hissing at ME. But look, I’m a friendly human boy. Dingoes are four-legged canines. Emu: Well, you can’t be too careful around here. Charlie: Why do your chicks whistle? Emu: To communicate with each other. They even whistled inside their eggs before they hatched! Charlie: And why are they so stripey? They look half-zebra, half-bird! Emu: It helps them blend in with the grass and plant leaves – to hide from dingoes. Charlie: How long before they grow as large as you? Emu: Only about one year. Charlie: Hear that, chicks? Soon, you’ll be as big as your mum here. Emu: Mum? I’m their dad! © imageBROKER/Alamy Stock Photo © Dave Watts/Alamy Stock Photo WHISTLE! WHISTLE! 8 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Charlie: Well, it’s great to see you looking after your kids. Not all animal dads do that. Emu: Their mum only laid the eggs. It was me who made the nest and looked after them. Charlie: You can’t fly, so how did you get up the tree? Emu: It was a ground nest, of course! I sat with those eggs for about 60 days. In all that time, I didn’t eat, drink – or even poo! I lost a third of my body weight. Emu: There’s a pouch in my throat. When I inflate it, I can hiss, make drumming noises or go BOOM! Charlie: You don’t seem too scared of dingoes. Emu: I can outrun my predators. And if an eagle tries to take me from above, I run in a zigzag. But my chicks wouldn’t be fast enough. Charlie: Are your three-toed feet good for running? Did you know emus can jump just over two metres straight up in the air? I wish I’d asked him to demonstrate! Charlie: And you never left? Emu: Hardly ever. And now I’m spending a few months teaching them how to find food. Charlie: What a great dad. You deserve to star in our ‘Long Necks’ issue. Emu: My neck’s perfect for looking over these tall grasses to see if dingoes are about! Charlie: What would you do if you saw one? Emu: Stretch out my neck, stand on my tip-toes, puff out my feathers and HISSSSSSSSSSS! Charlie: How do you make that scary sound? Emu: They’re great for gripping the ground and thrusting me forwards. I can zoom along at 50km per hour. The claws on my toes are also good for slashing at enemies! Charlie: I hear emus can walk a long way each day, too, to find food and water. And that you can detect water from hundreds of kilometres away. Do you see clouds forming or hear far-off thunder? Emu: That’s only for emus to know! Charlie: What do you eat, then? Emu: Seeds, fruits, snails, beetles, bits from poo I find… Charlie: Bleuuurgh! Emu: I even eat from my own poo. We often poo out whole seeds. Charlie: That’s great – you’re spreading them around so new plants can grow everywhere. Keep up the good work! 9 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

the giraffe that floats! Nubian Giraffe People are putting their necks on the line to save one of the world’s most endangered giraffes. The giraffe with two names The Nubian (pronounced “new-bee-un”) giraffe is one of the rarest subspecies of giraffe in Africa. It’s sometimes also called Rothschild’s giraffe. Once, these towering animals roamed all over the north of this great continent. Now, fewer than 3,000 of them live in small patches of savanna grassland and woodland in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Disappearing giraffes The number of Nubian giraffes in Africa has decreased by a shocking 95% in the last 30 years or so! They were classified as Critically Endangered in 2018, which means they are now in great danger of becoming extinct. Like many other African animals, the main reasons for their disappearance are: y Loss of habitat y Illegal hunting (poaching) Coat of Many Colours Each giraffe subspecies has a unique coat made up of different colours, shapes and patterns. The Nubian giraffe’s body is covered in rectangular, chestnut-brown patches surrounded by creamcoloured lines. Can you spot which of these skins belongs to it? The answer is at the bottom of page 11. High Dining Leaves, flowers and fruit are a Nubian giraffe’s favourite foods. As it browses the treetops in search of a snack, the giraffe’s head and neck get covered with sticky pollen, which is then spread from flower to flower – making this lofty vegetarian one of the largest pollinators on the planet! Did You Know? The Nubian giraffe’s lanky legs enable it to gallop along at speeds of up to 50kph! 10 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Giraffes on the move When it comes to saving giraffes from extinction, an important type of conservation is translocation. This is when animals are moved from one place to another. Translocation is used to: y Increase the number of giraffes in places where there aren’t many of them. y Bring them back to areas where they have already disappeared. y Help join isolated groups of giraffes together. y Rescue giraffes that are in immediate danger. But translocating large animals, like giraffes, can be a very tricky task! RESCUE MISSION: Giraffes on a Raft! A small herd of Nubian giraffes became trapped on a shrinking island in 2020. The eight agitated animals were left stranded on the tiny patch of land by the rising waters of Lake Baringo in Kenya. They were running out of food and surrounded by crocodiles. Something had to be done to save them – and fast! Conservation officers from an organisation called Save Giraffes Now – plus people from Kenyan wildlife organisations and the local community – worked together to put a plan into action. They guided the giraffes on to a specially built barge – nicknamed the ‘Gi-raft’ –before sailing the puzzled animals across the lake to safety at a new wildlife sanctuary on the mainland. The risky rescue operation took several months to complete, but, in the end, nine giraffes were saved – the extra animal was a baby called Noelle that was born on the island at Christmas time! This incredible story just goes to show the amazing things people will do to help endangered creatures, including these long-necked lovelies! Answer: B Vocabulary Isolated: Separated or apart from others. Lanky: Tall and thin. Sanctuary: A place where animals are protected from danger. Did You Know? Nubian giraffes are sometimes killed for meat, but they’re also hunted for the hair from their tails, which is used to make traditional jewellery. © Save Giraffes Now © agefotostock/Alamy Stock Photo 11 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

EXPERT Ask the Queen’s Swans David Barber is The Queen’s Swan Marker. Once a year, David takes part in a traditional event called Swan Upping. He sets sail with his team to count mute swans on the River Thames and make sure they are in good health. Mute swans are the largest type of swan. They do not make as much noise as other swans when they fly. The Elma: How many swans are there and how do you mark them? In July 2021, there were 1,050 adult swans living on the River Thames. During Swan Upping, we weigh and measure young swans (cygnets) and mark them with a ring or web tag. Bethany: How do you catch and check them without both of you getting hurt? Swan Uppers are trained to catch swans without hurting the birds or themselves. We use six traditional rowing skiffs (very old wooden boats) to create a circle around the family of swans in the water. We lift the swans out carefully and tie their legs and wings with a special knot. They are then checked and measured before we release them back to the water. Sienna: What’s the most common problem with swans? Cygnets often swim into fishing line and become entangled and injured. Plastic and drink cans in the water can cause severe injuries, too. It is important to remember to throw rubbish in a bin where it cannot come into contact with wildlife. If we can remove fishing tackle or attend to an injury, swans can be released back to the river straight away. If the injury is severe, we take the bird to a rescue organisation for treatment. Thames 12 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Nia: What do you admire most about swans? Swans are so very graceful and serene to watch but they are also amazing parents to their cygnets. It is fascinating to watch them grow from tiny beginnings to adult birds every year. The parents show real affection for their cygnets and for each other, and give so much pleasure to people. I think we are very lucky to have them in the United Kingdom. For more about David’s work, see http://royal.uk/swans. Mute swan feeding along riverbed Maiya: Do the swans ever bite or hiss? If dogs try to chase cygnets, the parents hiss but they don’t bite. They can peck but they don’t have teeth. They have serrations (jagged bits) inside their beaks. These saw-like edges help them in breaking off food such as river weed and vegetation. The swans’ main form of protection is their very powerful wings. Isabella: What has been your most unusual experience so far? Many years ago, I remember rescuing a very large sheep that had fallen down a steep bank and into the river. It could not get out. It took quite a time for my team to lift it to safety! Roseanna: Have you ever fallen in the water? Yes, but only once! It was rather embarrassing. When you are working in a small and narrow boat that is unstable in the water, you do have to be extremely careful. Bea: What do you like best about your job? I have worked on the River Thames all my life and I am very interested in wildlife. My favourite part of the job is teaching children about the ecology of mute swans and the habitat that the river provides for wildlife. Otis: What is it like to have the Queen as your boss? I am very proud to work for the Queen. When I am on duty with the Swan Uppers and we are wearing our uniforms, we have to be very smart and well behaved. Especially if we are meeting the Queen or other members of the Royal Family. © Cyril Ruoso/naturepl.com 13 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Colouring: Alpaca and Cria © Nadezhda Goretovskaia 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Gerenuk Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya © Dennis Huot/naturepl.com 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Grey Heron in a Courtship Display Hungary 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Wildlife News! It’s that time when the RSPCA reveals its funniest call-outs of the previous year! Rhona Reports! N0. 28 And don’t forget about me – Rusty! FUNNIEST RSPCA CALL-OUTS! You all know what RSPCA stands for, don’t you? No, it’s not Rusty’s Silly Pranks Constantly Annoy. It’s the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It gets a call to go and help an animal every 30 seconds, and reacted to over 280,000 calls in 2021. Some of those rescues turned out to be pretty funny… Inspector Dale Grant had a call reporting a dog squealing and crying, tied tightly to a canal boat in London. He rushed to the Grand Union Canal, in Hayes, to discover it was a stuffed toy tiger tied on to the front of a boat! Now, how about this story of a stuck duck? In January 2021, the north of England was freezing cold and partly covered in snow. That’s when a rescue officer was called out to help a duck trapped in ice. The caller said that the duck had been stuck in a frozen pond for two days and couldn’t move. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? So, the officer braved the ice to drive to the pond in North Yorkshire – and discovered that the duck was, in fact, a plastic ornament! A man in West Yorkshire couldn’t sleep after spotting a snake on his roof in March. He was so worried it might be dangerous that he called the police, who told him to call the RSPCA. It was hard to see in the dark, so the fire and rescue service helped out, too. They used a long hook to pull the snake down to discover… it was a headless rubber toy! Maybe a hungry bird of prey had swooped down and picked it up, before dropping it on the roof when it realised it wasn’t so tasty after all. (But did it eat the head?!) © RSPCA © RSPCA © RSPCA 17 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Here’s another case of hiss-taken identity. A very frightened man in Somerset called the RSPCA about a large snake that was stuck in his sofa. He’d bought it a few months earlier and could feel the body of a snake under the cushions. An officer went out to help – and discovered it was just a part of the sofa! And, in April, a woman called about a bird that was caught in string and tangled in a flagpole on the roof of a block of flats. It kept trying to fly away, she said, but just couldn’t free itself. It turned out to be a plastic bird scarer! I nearly called the RSPCA once when I heard wildcats screeching for help in the back garden. But it was just Rhona singing! Rusty NEWSFLASH! In Berlin Zoo, animals including bison, elephants and ibexes had a feast on unsold Christmas trees! TOP ANIMAL RESCUES OF 2021! The RSPCA has also released its top rescues of 2021, and there are some fascinating ones. On 22nd December, a fox fell through a café ceiling and triggered the alarm, which alerted the police! They rang the café owner, who found the confused fox standing on the kitchen worktop. The RSPCA released him back into the wild. Weirdly, it’s the second time a fox has fallen through that café’s ceiling! And look at this badger, who got stuck in a compost bin while searching for food. It was narrower at the top, so he could poke his head out but couldn’t squeeze himself up and out. An RSPCA rescuer used power tools to carefully cut the top of the plastic away to lift him free. He was released two days later after a full check-up. More of these top rescues next time! NEWSFLASH! It rained fish in Texarkana, USA, at the end of 2021! (Sometimes powerful winds can suck up small animals and rain them down somewhere else.) © RSPCA © RSPCA © RSPCA 18 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

WILDLIFE WATCH Most of you will be reading this in February. It’s a good month for wildlife watching because the leafless trees and bare hedges make animals easier to spot – especially in woods. Mind you, some creatures, including female badgers and grey squirrels, will be in their homes, nursing their young. Other animals, including mice, voles, stoats and weasels, should be out and about. Frogs may already be spawning. Rooks will start breeding and getting very active. Look out for them finding sticks to patch up their tatty nests – or pinching them from other nests! I’d like to see a grey shrike, because so few of these songbirds visit Britain in winter. It may be fewer than a hundred! Look out for a long tail, black mask and grey feathers. But other birds seem to recognise them as dangerous predators and attack them in groups! Grey shrikes have a gruesome habit. They sometimes pin the bodies of mice or smaller birds on to thorns and leave them there to eat later. I don’t fancy seeing that! There should be lots of activity on our waters, too, from water birds like ducks, geese and herons. I’d love to see a couple of great-crested grebes doing their courting dance. It involves lots of splashing and weed-shaking from their beaks! NEWSFLASH! In California, USA, a sea lion somehow made its way across a busy highway, crossing four traffic lanes to an island, before getting safely rescued! BEES AT RISK! Here’s some news that annoys me. The UK government will allow sugar beet farmers to spray their crops with a chemical that kills bees this year. This type of pesticide was previously banned because it can destroy wild bee populations. It’s not ecofriendly and goes against scientific advice! Speaking of annoying things, it’s time for me to hand you over to my little brother Rusty… Grey shrikes are fiercer than they look! © Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo 19 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

A BADGER’S BOUNTY! Hi, Rusty fans! I often daydream about finding buried treasure. I’ll be in the back garden trying to bury another thing of Rhona’s that I’ve accidentally broken, so she won’t find it. Suddenly – clunk! That’s the sound of my spade hitting a chest stuffed with buried treasure! Now I’m rich enough to buy everything I’ve ever wanted. I’ll even buy Rhona a new one of whatever it was that I’d broken. Well, if I remember. After all, it’s her fault, really, for buying things that break so easily. Anyway, I’m now thinking I need to hire a badger! I’ll tell you why. I heard about one that went digging for food in April last year – but found treasure instead! In northern Spain, a badger came across a small cave in some woodlands. It was a harsh winter, with lots of snow on the woodland floor. Hmmm, I bet the badger thought. It looks warmer inside that cave. I’ll go and dig for some nice worms and berries in there, instead. Well, that’s what it tried to do. Instead, it dug up some old coins. The badger had no use for money, so it dumped them. A couple of researchers spotted them when they visited the cave. They turned out to be just part of a stash of over 200 copper and bronze coins buried there. They date back over 15 centuries to the Roman Empire. It’s the largest treasure trove of Roman coins ever found in a cave in northern Spain. And the first to be discovered by a badger! Rusty If you’re not joking, Rusty, I’m going to check our back garden right now! Rhona WHY DO YOU HUMANS LIKE MONEY SO MUCH? IT TASTES HORRIBLE! 20 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 


 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

LOVELY LONG-NECKED LLAMAS & Other Lamoids Hello, Eco Kids! Hey, who doesn’t love a llama? These gorgeous South American creatures are the small relations of camels, but without the humps. Here are the other lovely lamoids: Guanacos – slightly smaller and more slender than llamas Alpacas – super-duper-fluffy Vicuñas – the smallest Llamas and alpacas are fully domesticated, while guanacos and vicuñas live in the wild, on the South American slopes and plains. ALL of them have lovely l - o - n - g necks! Why? Because they all have long legs! And having long legs means they have further to bend down to eat. All are herbivores covered with remarkably soft, furry coats. Now let’s look at some more similarities and differences… 1. LLAMA – peaceful, smart, sociable, hardy and hardworking Around 40 million years ago, camelids first appeared in North America. Some three million years ago, they migrated to South America. There are still several thousand llamas and alpacas in Canada and the USA today, but they became extinct as native animals during the Ice Age. Llamas are strong, sturdy and sure-footed. They are able to navigate rocky terrain, which makes them perfect pack animals. This means they can carry heavy loads. But they know their limits – overload a llama and it simply refuses to move! Fun Fact Llamas were bred from wild guanacos, and alpacas from wild vicuñas. 22 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Llama fur is light, soft, strong and fantastically warm. That’s how they keep cosy on the cold mountainside. It makes fleecy clothes and rugs to keep us toasty, too. Forget dogs – llamas are great at guarding livestock. They make a shrill noise as an alarm and are so clever they don’t need training. Llama poop doesn’t smell! Llama farmers call this eco-friendly fertiliser llama beans. And the Ancient Incas of Peru burnt dried llama poop for fuel. Being sociable, friendly creatures, llamas live together in family-like herds. They do have one rude habit, though: spitting. But mostly at each other – rarely humans! Every bit of a llama is useful and useable, from their fur and skin to milk and meat. How do they look so good on their diet of tough grasses and shrubs? Their three-chambered stomachs remove maximum nutrition from the sparse mountain plants. Guanacos rarely need to drink water. They get what they need from their diet. So you see, as beautiful as they are, guanacos are seriously tough. One of the most adaptable creatures in the world, they can survive the heavy snow and biting winds of the Andes. They can run as fast as horses – 64km per hour. Meaning they can outrun natural predators, such as pumas. As well as body language, they snort and shriek, gurgle, click and hum to communicate. Like llamas, they have super-warm coats. But even better quality. Although not as good as alpaca or vicuña wool! Vocabulary Lamoid: A member of the South American camelid family – a llama, alpaca, vicuña or guanaco. Did You Know? Mamma llamas don’t lick their babies at birth because their tongues aren’t long enough. Instead, they nuzzle and hum to their newborns! (Cute or what?!) Did You Know? Baby guanacos are also called chulengos, and can master their first steady steps only five minutes after birth. 2. GUANACO – noisy, fast, highly-adaptable, seriously tough and VERY lovely! Large eyes and thick lashes are not only gorgeous but useful, too. Big eyes mean better vision, and thick lashes stop dust and dirt from getting in. © Design Pics Inc/Alamy Stock Photo © Wolfgang Kaehler/Alamy Stock Photo 23 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

3. ALPACA – gentle, curious, domesticated producers of hypoallergenic, flame-resistant wool Alpacas are the second smallest of the camelids. They don’t carry loads like llamas, because they are bred purely for their mega-fluffy fleeces. There are two breeds of alpacas. 90% of all alpacas are huacayas, who have a comically curly coat. The other 10% are Suris, who have smoother, silky dreadlocks. Alpacas are kept in herds high in the Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile. And in alpaca farms all over the world. In 1532, when the Spanish invaded the Andes, up to 90% of alpacas died. Today there are over 3.7 million alpacas across the globe! Like their camelid cousins, alpacas live in friendly, family herds. And like llamas, they hum, rumble, shriek, trill, cluck, snort and scream to communicate. (They all use body language, too.) And they also spit! Did I mention the spit is actually stomach contents rather than saliva? Alpacas can propel it up to three metres away! Did You Know? You can house-train an alpaca, because they always poop and pee in the same place! They have peculiar teeth – NO top front incisors (front teeth). I guess their most important teeth are molars, for all that dry grass-munching and chewing. Intelligent and friendly, alpacas can form strong bonds with humans. This makes them perfect domesticated animals. Spit fight! © Warren Kovach/Alamy Stock Photo © Emiliano Barbieri/Alamy Stock Photo 24 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

4. VICUÑA – shy, super-soft, super-lovely and smallest member of the camelid bunch! Timid and adorable vicuñas measure just under a metre high. They live in the wild mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Argentina. Like their cousins the guanacos, vicuñas look elegant but are as tough as anything! A thick coat traps warm air during the hot, dry day. This keeps them warm in the freezing nights. Unlike guanacos, vicuñas need to drink water every day. Other adaptations to their harsh environment include walking on the soles of their feet. This means they can travel quickly over rocky terrain, gripping with their toes so they don’t slip. They have brilliant eyesight, excellent hearing and extra-large hearts to cope with the low oxygen in high altitudes. Vicuñas can only be shorn every three years, and their wool is exquisitely soft and fine. It is, in fact, the rarest and most expensive wool in the world! Vicuñas used to roam the Andes in their millions. As time marched on, poachers realised that the animals’ wool was worth more than gold. By the 1970s, these once sacred animals were hunted almost to extinction. There were only 1,000 vicuñas left in the wild. The introduction of national parks in Chile and Peru offered a safe haven to the precious herds. Vicuña numbers have increased remarkably since then. Did You Know? The vicuña is featured on the Peruvian flag, representing freedom, national pride and heroism. 25 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Do long-necked water monsters swim in our oceans and even some of our lakes? LONG-NECKED WEIRDNESS! People have reported sightings for centuries, from sailors’ stories of sea serpents to encounters with Morgawr, a monster said to stalk the waters off Cornwall’s coast! Some people believe they’re surviving plesiosaurs. These long-necked reptiles ruled the oceans back when dinosaurs reigned on land. But they couldn’t hold their heads up the way these monsters are said to. What’s more, we’ve found zero fossil remains of them from the last 65 million years. We can be pretty sure that plesiosaurs are looooooong gone! specimen mysteriously disappeared. Was there such an animal – and could it still exist? There’s no proof! Vocabulary Specimen: An individual animal or plant used as an example of its species. But could sea serpent sightings be based on a real animal? Mystery seal In the 1600s, a catalogue said that London’s Royal Society held the body of a long-necked seal. In the 18th century, the society again described long-necked seals as a known species, found on the shores of several countries. Yet they haven’t been seen since – and that Royal Society An illustration of a long-necked seal from 1751 Fun Fact We do have fossil evidence of a ‘swannecked seal’ that lived in Peru and Chile over 2.5 million years ago. (Its neck wasn’t really as long as a swan’s, but it was longer than today’s seals.) Leopard-Serpent Thingies? Look at these serpopards, strange animals found in Ancient Egyptian art. Their name is a mix of ‘serpent’ and ‘leopard’, although they look more like longnecked lionesses. Ancient Egyptian artists usually drew animals realistically, but surely these were only mythical beasts! © Svintage Archive/Alamy Stock Photo 26 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Giraffe-mania! Giraffes certainly exist – although they look like mythical beasts. The ancient Romans called them camelopards, thinking they were part camel, part leopard! They became a worldwide sensation as news of them spread – and Egypt’s ruler gave Britain its first giraffe in 1827. But is the following true or false? Brits became such giraffe fans that many decorated their rooms with giraffe patterns and women wore their hair piled up high like giraffe necks! Answer below. Simon's verdict Huge dinosaurs would leave plenty of evidence, but nobody ever found any. No bones, teeth, poo – nothing. And we now know that sauropods couldn’t hide or walk underwater. Water pressure would make it impossible for them to expand their lungs and breathe. So, why do some people believe dinosaurs still live in the Congo? Maybe it’s based on the totally wrong idea that Africa hasn’t changed since prehistoric times. The Mokele-mbembe may be a mythical beast of local legend. But it may have nothing at all to do with dinosaurs – or any actual animal. True! ANSWER: Over 50 expeditions have searched Africa’s Congo for living dinosaurs! The explorers believed that long-necked sauropod dinosaurs still lived there, lurking in its deep swamps and lakes. They’d heard local legends of a creature called Mokele-mbembe, a huge, terrifying, long-necked reptile. The searches began in the early 20th century, with the most recent trek in 2012. Some expedition leaders swore they saw the monster, rising from or sinking into water! CASE NOT ES: ARE T HERE DINOSAURS LIV ING IN T HE CONGO? The first giraffe in Britain – painted by Jacques-Laurent Agasse in 1827 27 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

But not all mysterious long-necked creatures of the Congo turn out to be myths… Sadly, okapis are now endangered in the wild. People destroy the animals’ habitats and hunt them for their meat and skin. In 1890, British explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley spotted an unknown creature in the Congo rainforest. It was, he reported, a strange horse-like animal, with striking black and white markings. It seemed so mysterious that some even named it the African unicorn! The okapi – for that’s what it was – remained unknown to science until 1900. (Of course, the native forest people had known about it for ages!) Okapis are the giraffe’s only relative. Their bums and tops of their legs are striped black and white like a zebra’s. Their blackish-blue tongues can stretch over 45 centimetres long. They use those talented tongues to strip leaves from branches, wash their eyelids and clean out their nostrils! This super-shy animal is almost impossible to see in the wild. With its superb hearing, it hears you coming first. Then it melts into the jungle’s dense trees and shadows, where its colours and patterns make it invisible. Not a single okapi had its picture taken in the wild until 2008! (That was thanks to a hidden digital camera that could sense movement.) Shortish, hairy head horns! SIMON’S STUMPER ANSWER: SIMON’S ST UMPER Can you spot something okapis have in common with giraffes besides those dark tongues? The answer’s below. Fun Fact Okapis sometimes eat burnt wood and clay, and lick up bat poo! My mum has a pair of stripey leggings like that! 28 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Many people also believed that herons’ feet somehow attract fish. Some even thought they ooze out a kind of oil that fish can’t resist! But let’s finish with some more freaky folklore! There are many strange stories about our long-necked wading birds – especially herons. Herons wade quietly or stand as still as statues in shallow waters – until they spot a fish. Then, with a swift jab of their bill, they strike like lightning and spear the creature! Many people used to believe that, when fishing at night, herons nibbled at their breast feathers to create a powder. Then they sprinkled it on the inky water below and, with a flash, it lit up, revealing all the nearby fish! There’s some truth to the story. Although it doesn’t glow, herons do have something called powder down. Some of their down feathers crumble at the tips to produce a fine powder. When the heron uses its bill to spread this powder through its feathers, it helps to clean them. It’s great for mopping up fish slime and other goo. Sounds like me using talcum powder after a shower! Other birds that have powder down include parrots and pigeons. Sometimes – in fact, quite often – weirdness has a long neck! Herons sometimes look lonely on the water, but they nest in noisy colonies Vocabulary Down feathers: A layer of fine feathers found under the tough outer feathers. © Gregory Johnston/Alamy Stock Photo 29 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

 Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator © 2007 - 2022 Education.com Crossword Puzzle 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Down: Across: 1. Change slowly over time 2. The only wild camel 3. Young swans 4. The wild ancestor of llamas 5. A tall wading bird 6. Emu’s predator 7. Giraffe’s only relative 8. The tallest mammal 9. A llama, alpaca, vicuña or guanaco 10. The emu is found on which continent? 11. The world’s most endangered giraffe 12. Which animal is on the Peruvian flag? ® Long Necks Crossword Quiz Planet Down: 1. Change slowly over time 3. Young swans 4. The wild ancestor of llamas 6. Emu’s predator 7. Giraffe’s only relative 9. A llama, alpaca, vicuña or guanaco 11. The world’s most endangered giraffe Across: 2. The only wild camel 5. A tall wading bird 8. The tallest mammal 10. The emu is found on which continent? 12. Which animal is on the Peruvian flag? Multiple-choice Quiz Test your knowledge with these multiple-choice questions. 1. Which of these camelids lives in the wild? A. Alpaca B. Llama C. Guanaco D. The Arabian camel 2. Which of these is an alpaca’s habitat? A. The Amazon rainforest B. Andes Mountains C. African savanna D. Pantanal 3. Which of these animals won’t you find in Africa? A. Gerenuk B. Giraffe C. Camel D. Llama 4. In which country can you spot a wild Nubian giraffe? A. Peru B. Kenya C. Chile D.Egypt 30 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

See answers on page 33 Maze: Five Ostriches Find the Correct Shadow: Camel Spot 12 Differences: Gerenuk Work out which ostrich has its head buried in the sand. ©cartoonstock.com Joke Corner 31 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Over to You Thanks to all our readers who shared their wild heroes with us. We loved receiving your letters and reading about the miraculous ways your heroes help us and their environment. Congratulations to our four lucky winners! Alejandro, age 9, Edinburgh Zoe, aged 8, Aberdeen 32 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

To see more amazing entries from our readers, go to ecokidsplanet.co.uk/wild-hero-competition Answers Benji, age 7, Norfolk Liuce, aged 9, Bristol Long Necks Crossword Spot 12 Differences Find the Correct Shadow Maze Multiple Choice Quiz 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. B 33 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Monthly Project Paper Pom-Pom Swan and Cygnets Send us a picture of your long-necked birds to [email protected]! We’d love to see how you get on. Swans look so beautiful as they glide past with their cygnets in tow. It’s amazing to think that these little grey balls of fluff will one day be as large and graceful as their parents. Once you’ve mastered the paper pompom technique, why not try making some other long-necked birds, such as ostriches and flamingoes? What you need: • Tissue paper in white for the adult swan and silver or grey for the cygnets • Pipe cleaners (one white, one silver or grey) • Beads • Scissors • A pencil What to do: 1.To make the adult swan, cut four rectangles of white tissue paper measuring approximately 30cm x 10cm. 2.Place the rectangles on top of each other and fold to make a concertina. 3.Twist one end of a pipe cleaner around the centre of the concertina. 4. Cut the corners off at each end to make a feather shape. Draw the shape on before cutting if it helps. 5. Carefully tease out the layers of paper to make a pom-pom. Trim the ends to neaten them up if necessary. 6. Bend the pipe cleaner up and shape it to make the swan’s long neck. Thread some beads on to make an eye and a beak. 7. Repeat the process with smaller rectangles of grey/silver tissue paper and pipe cleaners to make the cygnets. Craft by Daisy Fox 34 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

Monthly Competition Animal Kitchen Creations FOUR lucky readers will win our top-quality, eco-friendly water bottles. 4 TO WIN! How to submit your entries: Email a photo of your delicious creation to [email protected] before 10th March 2022. Winners will be announced in our April 2022 issue. Please make sure you include your full name, age and address, so we know how to reach you. Bakers and master chefs, get your mixing bowls out and oven mitts ready! We’re challenging you to create some delicious animal creations. Will you make jungle creature cupcakes? A long-necked dino cookie? A fun-faced llama sandwich? The options are endless! Make this into a fun weekend or half-term project with your parent or carer. Eco Kids Planet's Water Bottle Stainless steel – Double-Walled – Reusable – Eco-Friendly Our new branded water bottles are made of highquality stainless steel that is 100% food-safe, for long-lasting, fresh-tasting flavour. Thanks to double-walled insulation, they will keep your tea or coffee hot for up to 12 hours, or retain ice-cold drinks for up to 24 hours. No more warm water! Leak-proof and sturdy, they’re great for taking to school, sport activities or family outings. RRP: £20.00 www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk/shop/eco-kids-water-bottle/ 35 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF ECO KIDS PLANET Issue 89 ecokidsplanet.co.uk Slimy Species! Charlie Meets a Swiftlet A cute little bird that builds its nest out of spit A Giant Ground Pangolin Endangered Creature Feature Slimy Superpowers Find out about the most powerful animal ooze Mythical Monster Snail! Was the Lou Carcolh real? Slimy Self-Defence Meet the world’s wiliest slime warriors A World of Slime Discover how slime holds our planet together! © Helmut Corneli/Alamy Stock Photo